0

Mozilla, Deutsche Telekom, LG, Qualcomm, TCL/ALCATEL ONETOUCH, Telefónica, ZTE and a number of other tech companies today launched a new initiative that aims to promote the open Web device ecosystem by “encouraging API compliance as well as ensuring competitive performance.” The Open Web Device Compliance Review Board (CRB) will operate as an independent not-for-profit organization, but its standards will be based on Mozilla’s principles of user privacy and control and will also form the basis of Mozilla’s Firefox OS branding requirements.

The idea behind this alliance, the members say, is to ensure that these devices – and for all intents and purposes, Firefox OS-based “boot-to-Gecko” (B2G) phones are currently the focus here – can be brought to market faster. The alliance also hopes that it can support device manufacturers by setting performance standards and minimize their costs for compatibility testing.

In order to do so, the group will set minimum quality bars for performance that will ensure that “performance is similar to any other OS running on a similar device.”

It will also ensure that developers can expect a set of open APIs that will be available on all certified devices. For the time being, though, the group hasn’t certified any specific devices yet, but plans to do so in the near future.

The CRB’s board includes four members from Mozilla, two from Qualcomm and one representative from ZTE – one of the first companies to bet on Firefox OS.

“Users want a wide selection of devices and great apps. Operators, device OEMs and vendors want to be able to develop and test quickly and independently, in order to get new products to market. The CRB will enable partners to do so efficiently, reliably and confidently,” said Andreas Gal, vice president of mobile at Mozilla and the president of the CRB in a canned statement today. “This is the next step in building the ecosystem and will make it easier for partners to get a wide selection of high-quality solutions into consumers’ hands quickly and efficiently.”

0

CrunchBase

OverviewDeutsche Telekom is the largest telecommunications company in Germany and the European Union.
Deutsche Telekom offers fixed-network services, such as voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware, as well as services to resellers.
The company offers network access, including analog, universal/ISDN and IP Access, …

OverviewLG Electronics develops and sells consumer electronics under the LG name worldwide.
The company provides its products under several departments: home entertainment division, offers a range of televisions, monitors, PCs, security devices, home theatre systems, Blu ray players, DVD players, music systems, Blu ray and DVD burners, and other products; mobile communications division, provides various …

OverviewMozilla is a non-profit organization; and a global community of technologists, thinkers and builders committed to keep the Internet alive and accessible.
The Mozilla project was created in 1998 with the release of the Netscape browser suite source code. After several years of development, Mozilla 1.0, was released in 2002. By 2002, well over 90% of Internet users were browsing with Internet Explorer. …

OverviewTelefonica, S.A. operates as a diversified telecommunications group that provides fixed line and mobile telephony services.
Telefonica wants to enhance people's lives and the performance of businesses as well as the progress of the communities where they operate by delivering innovative services based on information and communications technologies.
The company was founded in 1924. As of March …

OverviewZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. Founded in 1985, ZTE Corporation has been listed as an A-share company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 1997. In December 2004, ZTE was successfully listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange in Hong Kong, becoming the first Chinese company to hold both A shares and H shares. Currently, ZTE is the telecom …